Game day: Inside the locker room with Windsor football

Oct. 31, 2013

Windsor football team captains Blake Bunday (8), Zach Peck (53), Wil Dressor (22) and Alex Weis (39) take the field with coach Chris Jones in the middle before against a game against Niwot on Oct. 25. / Hunter Thompson/For the Beacon

More game day coverage

For a look inside the locker room on game day see a video and photo gallery at Coloradoan.com/section/WINDSORBEACON Next up: Greeley West at Windsor, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Windsor High School Twitter updates: @Kevin_Lytle

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Some call it superstition, others say it’s simply a set routine.

Whatever term you use, there are some things coaches and athletes must do the same way every week.

More than three hours before every football game, Windsor High School coach Chris Jones walks out to H.J. Dudley Field to set things up just right.

Jones shapes two benches on the sideline into a V right at the 45 yard line on the south side of the field. The field goal post pad that reads ‘Windsor’ goes at the south end.

“When I got here, they put the ‘Wizards’ pad at the south end,” Jones said. “That doesn’t make sense because the scoreboard (on the south end) says ‘Wizards.’ ”

Superstition, routine … whatever. It’s all part of game day.

Fans show up at 6:30 p.m. to see the team take the field and battle their opponent. What fans don’t see is the three-plus hours of preparation once school ends.

Getting their game face on

Around 3:30 p.m., players gather in the locker room and begin mental prep for their game. On Oct. 25 before playing Niwot, the team held a walk-through with players in T-shirts in the gymnasium. They run through plays and formations before Jones gave a speech to the team.

Then defensive end and captain Zach Peck gathers players for a quick word before heading back to the locker room.

“Let’s work to our standard tonight and play like we’re capable of playing,” Peck says. “Let’s go out and dominate all night long.”

Music from Jay-Z, Drake and others blasts as players make their final preparations. Coaches gather in a small side-room, killing time before warmups begin at 5:15.

Once everyone is on the field, Jones walks through the stretching lines, giving a hug and word of encouragement to each player.

Shortly before kickoff, the team retreats to the locker room and sits in silence. Players and coaches grab each other’s hands and bow their heads in a silent minute of thought.

Then, with passion of a man who hates to lose, Jones delivers his pregame speech.

“They are playing Windsor,” Jones shouts. “We’re going to play fast on defense, protect the ball on offense and get a team win. Use your heart and your brain. Let them see what a football brotherhood looks like.”

Then players give their own speech.

“It’s all in our hands,” linebacker and captain Alex Weis says. “Put them in the dirt. Put them in the dirt each and every play, then do it again.”

Game time

Once the ball is kicked off, it’s business as usual. Jones and the offense have a quick meeting after every possession. The defense gathers itself after giving up a late first-half touchdown and the Wizards roll to a 62-20 win over Niwot.

The final meeting of game day comes near the south end zone with Jones, the players, coaches and trainers gather for the last words of the day.

“Who do you play for?” Jones shouts.

“Windsor!”, is the team response.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.